Heritage Lottery Fund grant puts Bromley Museum on track for £1.794m transformation
12:20pm Sunday 28th October 2012 in News By Robert Fisk
The Priory as it looked in 1819
A £1.794M scheme to transform Bromley Museum into an arts and cultural hub is a step closer today thanks to a lottery grant.
Bromley Council wants to carry out improvement works to the museum, which is housed in The Priory, a Grade II* listed building in Church Hill, Orpington.
If it is successful in getting the money it needs from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) it will use the money to improve facilities and access for a wide range of visitors.
This could involve tripling the exhibition space and providing multi-functional rooms for heritage and arts activities and raising awareness of key residents of the medieval manor.
Visitor facilities would also be improved with plans for a reception area, café, toilets and a lift and opening hours would also be extended.
The council is optimistic it will be able to get the funding after being awarded £186,300 by the HLF, which it is going to use to put its £1.794m bid together.
Portfolio holder for renewal and recreation Councillor Peter Morgan said: “These exciting proposals will transform the museum into a destination of choice in an important town centre and encourage more visitors to enjoy the borough’s rich heritage.
“There is still more work to be done in developing the project but we’re delighted have come this far with the backing of the HLF.”
And Sue Bowers, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for London, said: “We are pleased to give our initial support to this project which underlines the site’s special nature while aiming to create an enhanced and expanded home for displaying local heritage.”
Dating back more than 700 years, the Priory is one of only a few rectories dating from before the Reformation to survive.
The site also includes Grade ll listed 15th century outbuildings and Grade ll walled Arts and Crafts gardens.
